I Tried 3 DIY Bathroom Cleaners and This One Won Out

03.05.2024 - 14:11 / thespruce.com / Jill Nystul / Ashley Chalmers

Like many of us, I’m on a quest to be more environmentally friendly. It’s something that can be tricky with a busy family of four, but the best hacks I’ve found are the ones that seamlessly replace one item with something naturally less wasteful. It’s one reason I’m an official convert to wool dryer balls, after all. 

Recently, I decided to venture into the world of DIY cleaners. I love the idea of one reusable spray bottle to replace all the plastic containers involved in traditional cleaning packaging, and cutting back on aggressive chemicals in the name of more natural options was appealing, too. 

I decided to start with my bathroom, where, of course, most of our germs live. To get started, I turned to the internet and searched for some great DIY shower-cleaning recipes. As it turns out, there are tons of recipes out there—but one in particular is my new official favorite. 

For all three options, you’ll need a reusable spray bottle, a microfiber cloth, and a sponge. 

Joy Kim

This recipe I found on Jill Nystul’s blog, One Good Thing, is by far the most popular. You can find variations of it everywhere, and it’s incredibly easy. All you need are the following ingredients:

The two key things for this particular combo are that your vinegar is warm so that the dishwashing liquid mixes in more effectively, and that you let the solution sit for thirty minutes before scrubbing it down.

I followed the instructions and yes, I can confirm: my glass shower screen was instantly streak-free and perfectly clean. This combo is incredibly easy to make and decidedly effective on limescale and soap scum.

Less ideal? As Jill warns in her post, my whole bathroom and bedroom smelled like vinegar. Also, my metal shower fixture got